Irkutsk (Иркутск) is the capital of the Irkutsk region of Russia and has more than 300 years of urban history.

Irkutsk is the largest industrial city, transport and trade hub in Siberia, and the second largest city in Eastern Siberia.

It is regarded by Russians as the "heart of Siberia" and by foreign tourists as the "Paris of the East" of Russia.

Located at the southern tip of Lake Baikal, Irkutsk is the closest city to Lake Baikal, with an area of 767,900 square kilometers and a continental climate with long cold periods.

The city is located at the confluence of the Angara and Irkut rivers. Irkutsk has Russia's largest aircraft factory, the Irkutsk Aircraft Factory, which produces the world-famous Su-27 and Su-30 fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, etc.

The city of Irkutsk was founded in 1661.

The Cossack knights marched into Siberia on the orders of the Tsar, and they traveled thousands of miles to expand their territory and become pioneers in the development of Siberia.

Irkutsk has played a variety of roles in its nearly 350-year history – including a Siberian expedition base, a penal colony, and a gold rush city.

The Irkutsk region is located in the south of Eastern Siberia. It is bordered by the Republic of Buryatia, the Republic of Tuva, Krasnoyarsk, the Republic of Sakha, and the Chita Oblast to the east.

The Irkutsk region developed gradually with the development of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and the regional government was established in 1937.

In the late 19th century, the discovery of gold in the Lena River and the beginning of the Siberian Gold Rush, where people rushed to become rich.

Irkutsk is one of the most attractive cities in Russia.

The overall scale of the city is also relatively coordinated, with multi-storey buildings and low-rise buildings in the city. The pleasant spatial scale makes the city more relatable.

It is said that in the 17th and 18th centuries when the city was first built, the city was built of wood, but a fire destroyed most of the buildings, and the mayor at the time ordered that no wooden buildings should be built in the city.

As a result, all existing wooden buildings are more than 200 years old. The cornices, window grilles and intricate carvings at the entrances of these buildings demonstrate the exquisite architectural art of the Russian Far East at that time.

In addition to the well-preserved historical relics, respect for the city's history is also fully taken into account in the new planning and construction of the city. On the streets of Irkusco, you can always see modern buildings that are perfectly integrated with historical buildings, and their volumes, colors, and facades are in harmony with traditional buildings. The design of the building is not difficult to see the profound cultural heritage of the Russian nation,

The Angara River flows from Lake Baikal and passes through the urban area of Irkutsk, dividing the city in two. The good ecological environment and the natural diversity of open space have become another major feature of the city.

I like the cleanliness and quietness of the city, as well as the calmness, relaxation and relaxation of people's lives.

Irkutsk is an important city in Siberia, integrating education, industry, military industry, and trade.

It used to be a node of the "Tea Road", an important channel for Chinese tea exports to Europe. At present, it is still an important trading city between China and Russia. It is not difficult to find the faces of Chinese compatriots on the streets here.

However, there are very few "fallen masters" in China now, but there are still many "fallen masters" in Russia, who enter and leave here to buy goods in Manchuria and engage in border trade.

Irkutsk is also an important tourist city in Siberia. There are more than 1,500 places of interest in the Irkutsk region.

Another important reason why Irkutsk is famous all over the world is Lake Baikal, 66 kilometers to the east.

One of the unique engineering buildings of world significance, the Circum-Baikal Railway, was built in the 20th century and was designed and constructed by Italian and Russian engineers, and the complexity and value of the project are unparalleled in the history of Russian railway construction.

A total of 39 tunnels and 47 corridors have been built on this section of the Circum-Baikal Railway, which is not very long. Every year, there are many passengers who take the Circum-Baikal Railway for sightseeing. In the summer, the Circum-Baikal Electric Express Tourist Train carries more than 6,000 tourists on the Circum-Baikal Railway.

Irkutsk was included in the list of historical cities of architectural monuments in 1970.

In the evening, sitting in a fast-food restaurant, I smiled happily at the beetroot soup that the waitress brought me. I haven't eaten this for a while since I returned home. There were a lot of young people gathered in the fast food restaurant, they were laughing and talking, and the scene in front of me reminded me of my old college cafeteria. While tasting the authentic beetroot soup, there was a happy laughter of young people. I had the illusion that I was still in Moscow.

Thinking that tomorrow I was going to leave to see Lake Baikal, I subconsciously looked at my watch.

Irkutsk and Beijing are in the same time zone. Maybe my family is having dinner at this time. Katya and Sergey must be busy at work at this time, right? It's still early for them to leave work! And what about Andrei? Is it time for him to get up or is he still asleep? I was surprised to find that the person I knew the most difficult to grasp was Andre!